Celebrating Diane Keaton (née Hall), 5th January 1946 to 11th October 2025.
I adored Diane Keaton in spite of, not because of, her association with Woody Allen and was a huge fan of her films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. I started losing track of her appearances in the latter part of the 1990s and into the 21st century, and in some cases Diane was the sole saving grace of some otherwise bland movies.
I knew that Diane had also stepped behind the camera to direct, but not that this included a season 2 episode of Twin Peaks and several videos for Belinda Carlisle, including arguably her best known song, Heaven Is A Place On Earth.
Throughout her life, Diane always carried a deceptively simple yet striking image, be it a penchant for pants (trousers), wide brimmed hats or gloves. And always that incredible smile.
Diane has occasionally committed her voice to vinyl: I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard featured in the 1981 film Reds, and was released as a single in the USA.
However, for today's selection, I've fallen back on the tried and tested approach of a 12-song, 45-minute compilation of songs that (more or less) match the titles of films from Diane's extensive CV.
There were a few also-rans: if Lloyd Cole had only moved upstairs, he could have been a shoo-in for 5 Flights Up. Similarly, Anne Clark is kicking herself that Woody Allen never got around to making a sequel to his 1973 hit, and calling it Sleeper In Metropolis.
I've also taken a few liberties: Something's Gotta Give is replaced with a more grammatically satisfying B-side by The Comsat Angels. And Akron/Family drop the 'And' for So It Goes, but it's close enough for me.
Kicking off the second half of this mixtape, it was too good an opportunity to pass up a reference to Because I Said So, not least 'cause it's sonic equivalent was recorded by The Godfathers, a wonderfully unsubtle reference to the fact that Diane played Kay Adams in all of Francis Ford Coppola's legendary trilogy.
Aside from all that, I think it's an eclectic but entertaining selection, which is a (very) simple way of summing up Diane's film career. If you're in the mood for a Diane Keaton marathan, then click on any of the titles for more info (courtesy of IMDb) and fill your boots.
I'm going to end with a quote from Diane, which inspired today's title and is something we could all do more of.
Don't give up on yourself.
So you make a mistake here and there;
you do too much or you do too little.
Just have fun.
Smile.
And keep putting on lipstick.
Thanks, Diane, you were - and will always be - wonderful.
1) Morning Glory (Edit): Chairmen Of The Board (1974)
2) Northern Lights (The Freelance Hellraiser Mix): Ian Brown (2002)
3) Something's Got To Give: The Comsat Angels (1986)
4) Sleeper: Espiritu (1997)
5) Manhattan: Cinerama (2000)
6) So It Goes: Akron/Family (2011)
7) 'Cause I Said So: The Godfathers (1988)
8) Mama's Boy (Album Version): Ramones (1984)
9) Hampstead (Demo): Adam & The Ants (1977)
10) Interiors (Song For Willem De Kooning) (Album Version): Manic Street Preachers (1996)
11) Love And Death (Re-Recorded Version): Ebo Taylor (2009)
12) Plan B (Single Version): Dexy's Midnight Runners (1981)
1974: Skin I'm In: 1
1981: Plan B EP: 12
1984: Too Tough To Die: 8
1986: The Cutting Edge EP: 3
1988: Birth, School, Work, Death: 7
1996: Everything Must Go: 10
1997: Another Life: 4
2000: Antbox: 9
2000: Manhattan EP: 5
2002: Remixes Of The Spheres: 2
2010: Love And Death: 11
2011: S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT: 6
No comments:
Post a Comment